John 11:33-45

“The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’” vs. 45

John tells us that when Lazarus emerged from the tomb at the command of Jesus, he had new life, but there was a problem. His hands and feet were bound and he could not see. Here in a few words John laid out a metaphor that describes the new life in Christ for a multitude of believers. In contemporary terms, we’re a lot like zombies, an army of the living dead! We have the promised new life, but we remain bound by our past and the brokenness of the present. We don’t have a clue about the freedom that is ours in Jesus, a freedom to “let go and let God,” and we still can’t see.

What a gift it is when finally we receive the unbinding, and we discover the joy of walking in the way of Jesus and experiencing the peace of God. It’s in that moment that we realize that resurrection is a present reality and that death can never ever touch our souls. Unfortunately there is no formula or incantation that can be uttered to receive that freedom. It often catches us by surprise, in a moment of time that bursts upon us without warning. We only know it as it’s happening, but once freedom has touched our hearts, we’ll never be afraid again. Grace will have had its way with us!

Thought for the Day: What does it feel like to be totally free?

John 11:17-32

“When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’” vs. 32

When Jesus came to Bethany each of the sisters, first Mary, and then Mary, greeted him in the same way, acknowledging him as Lord, but also implying that he could have kept their brother from dying. We’re familiar with such reactions, especially among those who have been long-time believers. Even when we know that so-called “dread diseases” are likely to have ugly consequences, we almost always keep on praying for our loved ones to return to health. And many also believe that positive outcomes are directly related to the strength of our faith.

So when death does come to those loved ones for whom we’ve been praying so hard, it’s not unusual to feel a bit let down by Jesus. Even when recovery is against the odds, we can’t help thinking that Jesus could have done just a little more. It isn’t that we lose our faith. Let’s just say that like Mary and Martha, we’re disappointed. 

John tells us that it broke Jesus’ heart to see the sisters weeping, and that he himself began to cry. We do not have a cold-hearted Lord. That’s just not a part of God’s nature. And when our hearts ache in the presence of death, it’s important to remember that we are loved deeply, and one day we will all live again.

Thought for the Day: What comforts me in the presence of death?

John 11:1-16

“But when Jesus heard it, he said, ‘This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’” vs. 4

As John chose stories of Jesus’ life for his gospel he deliberately picked ones that would bring glory to Jesus. He had done it with the man who had been born blind and he did the same with Lazarus’ illness. His readers, at this point, can anticipate that something spectacular is going to happen. Everything about the story, the delay in Galilee, the confusion of the disciples, and the threat of danger, increases the tension and demonstrates the depth of Jesus’ love for his friends. John is a skilled writer and it’s easy to see why his gospel has been a favorite of believers from the beginning.

The Lazarus story sets the stage, not only for the miracle of resurrection in Jesus’ own life, but also for the promise of new life for all believers. Here we see clearly what Paul articulated in Romans, that there is nothing, not even death, that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. As the disciples walk with Jesus on his journey to his friends in Bethany they will learn that no illness leads to death and that in Jesus everything that binds us will ultimately be loosed.

As we read this now in Lent, we’re getting a glimpse of the Easter that is waiting. A couple more weeks and the Light of Life will dawn once more!

Thought for the Day: What illnesses do I fear the most?

Romans 8:10-11

“But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” vs. 10

The longer we dig around in the scriptures the more likely we are to strike gold in the most unlikely places. Those familiar with the bible know that there are an abundance of passages that are less than edifying. But there are also many sections of scripture, in both the Old and New Testaments, that lift us up and give hope to the fallen. 

In Romans Paul gives us an abundance of such passages. Here is one of his best! Even though our lives are dead in the water and our rap sheet is a mile long, there is still hope! It’s not because of any merit or worthiness that is in us, but totally because of the righteousness of God that is ours in Christ Jesus. And that’s true for every one of us! There are none who are beyond hope! 

And because the Spirit is in us, day by day working overtime to restore the broken image of God, the fruit of the Spirit is going to pop out of us at the most unexpected times. Almost against our will we find ourselves feeding the hungry and clothing the naked. Oh what joy it gives to know that we can be the hands and feet of God in the world! Truly this is one of life’s golden moments!

Thought for the Day: When have I borne surprising fruit?

Romans 8:6-9

“To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” vs. 8

Paul recognized that mind control is essential for believers who desire peace and serenity in their lives. The problem is that it’s not easy to do, particularly in an age like ours when influencers, politicians, and liars of every stripe are doing everything possible to control our minds. Sometimes it gets so bad that we don’t know what to think–we might even feel as though we have lost our minds. 

Some react to that feeling by shutting off their minds to the external world. They don’t read or watch anything about the news or contemporary events, and focus only on personal relationships or walks in the park. Some will even declare a moratorium on following sports!  But it’s hard to shield our minds from distractions, and sometimes even those things we consider innocent and harmless can become dangerous preoccupations.

Paul advised his readers to set their minds on the Spirit, and many have found amazing strength and peace by doing exactly that. They have discovered that using some of their time for prayer and meditation gives them the perfect balance for wringing joy out of daily living, even when it feels like a grind. Instead of letting their minds flit about from one distracting thought to another, they focus on what is lovely, admirable, praiseworthy and true, and they say it makes all the difference in the world.

Thought for the Day: How do I control my mind?

Psalm 130

“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!” vs. 1

We live in strange and bewildering times. On the one hand our country has been involved in an attack on Iran, the consequences of which are still to be seen. And yet, aside from an uptick in gasoline prices at the pump, it’s as though nothing has happened. We see videos and news reports of horrible things that have been occurring, yet life goes on. 

Oh, some are deeply upset and frustrated that their opposition to this war is ignored. But others are supportive of the attacks, and hope that they will change the political climate of the Middle East in a positive way. Iran has long been a thorn in the side of our country. But no matter what our position none of us are at a level where we can have much influence on anyone. The best we can do is protest and hope that someone is listening.

That’s what the psalmist was doing too. We’re not sure what was happening–it could have been a political crisis. (God knows that there have been plenty of those in Israel.) But he’s crying from the depths, a place that most of us are familiar with, and he’s hoping that someone is listening. More specifically, he’s hoping that the Lord is listening! One thing he knew for sure! The Lord is full of love, and his prayers would never be in vain!

Thought for the Day: How am I praying for my country?

Ezekiel 37:1-14

“Then he said to me, ‘Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, “Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.”’” vs. 11

From Israel’s perspective, hunkered down in captivity in Babylon, the future was pretty dismal, and Ezekiel doesn’t pull any punches. The nation had appeared to him in a vision as a valley of dry bones, a country that had completely lost its way. 

While we typically think of our relationship to God in individual terms, the Hebrew scriptures have a corporate understanding of our connection. What we do as a nation makes a difference! For some believers questions about our own country’s standing before God have been open for discussion in recent years. They have deep reservations about the future, and wonder openly whether we have lost our way. Our country has made clear that the hungry and the poor, the “least of these” according to the words of Jesus, are no longer welcome here. Those who have come here seeking asylum are being sent home.

Instead we have adopted a belligerent and aggressive attitude toward the world, flexing our muscles, and waging war against those we have labelled “bad” people. And because we are a powerful, well-armed nation there has been little resistance. And so we wonder. Have we, like Israel, lost our way? Are there dry bones in our future?

No matter what our political stance, it is something for us to pray about. These are turbulent times!

Thought for the Day: How can individuals have an impact on what our nation does?

John 9:28-38

“They answered him, ‘You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?’ And they drove him out.” vs. 34

It’s hard for educated and highly trained professionals to listen to the ramblings of the illiterate and unlearned. The religious leaders had zero respect for the insights of a beggar or his parents. And when the man claimed that Jesus had come from God they silenced him. He had no credentials!

The standards have not changed in the twenty-first century. We still live in a tiered and hierarchical world in which supposedly learned people regularly discount the ideas and the testimony of those with no standing. As a result even in our congregations some are reluctant to share their faith stories or testify to what has happened in their lives. They’re afraid they’ll get shot down, or even worse, laughed at. The man who had been born blind had no such fear. He knew what had happened to him and he was willing to share his good news with anyone who would listen.

That’s how it is with the good news that Jesus brings. It has nothing to do with book learning or education. Forgiveness, mercy, and love are part of a universal language, a part of the gospel that we can hear from any hurting person, no matter what their status! In the same way, each of us has a story too, and the more people that hear it, the better for us all.

Thought for the day:Why is it hard to share with the “learned?”

John 9:13-27

“He answered, ‘I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.’” vs. 25

The man who had been blind in John’s story didn’t have a satisfactory answer for anyone who questioned him. The whole community, from religious leaders to his own parents, wondered how he had recovered his sight, and all he could do was tell his simple story. When they pressed him further he gave his most impressive testimony. He didn’t have an answer, but he did know this: he once was blind but now he could see. 

That continues to be the best answer when people press us about the nature of our faith. We probably won’t have erudite answers and details often escape us. Many times our theology seems weak and our biblical knowledge feels completely inadequate. But we do have a testimony! It could be like the one offered by the man in the text: I once was blind but now I see. Or even better, I once was lost but now am found! We may not have any fancy or learned answers, but we do know that even in this troubled and dark world, all is well with our souls!

It feels good to have that simple and blessed assurance! It means we can relax and move on in our lives with peace and serenity in our hearts and hope for our tomorrows. Who could possibly wish for anything more?

Thought for the Day: What is my testimony?

Just inadvertantly posted March 26—ignore it until then!